Introduction to 脕guilas beaches

36 beaches on the 28 kilometres of coastline in Águilas

The municipality of Águilas, in the south-west of the Costa Cálida and the Region of Murcia, has much to offer to both visitors and residential tourists: a fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, the clear water of the Mediterranean, the gastronomic delights of the area and the warm climate to name but a few.

However, without any doubt tourism would not be such an important part of the local economy in the 21st century were it not for the 36 beaches which lie on the municipality’s coastline. These beaches range from tiny, intimate, barely accessible coves to the long swathes of golden sand in the town centre.

Starting at the south-western end of the coastline on the border with Andalucía and ending in the east on the border with the municipality, the beaches of Águilas are the following:

1. Playa de Calacerrada: wind-sculpted rock formations adorn the westernmost beach in Murcia, a sandy and attractive cove which is popular with those who enjoy natural beaches. Click for Calacerrada/Playa de Los Cocedores

2. Playa de La Carolina: calm bathing conditions and views out towards Águilas at this attractive sandy beach, part of the "Cuatro Calas "series. Blue Flag beach. Click for Playa de la Carolina

3. Playa de La Higuerica: a stretch of golden sand flanked by vegetation and dunes. Popular with those who prefer an out of town location. Also popular with camper vans due to availability of parking. A Blue Flag beach. Click for Playa de la Higuerica

5. Playa de La Tortuga (Los Cocedores): This is a small, rocky and sandy cove close to the beach of Calarreona, only accessible via a clifftop path. Click for Cala de la Tortuga

6. Playa de la Cueva de Las Palomas (Calamijo): a sheltered cove on the headland between Matalentisco and Calarreona, which is best accessed on foot. Suitable for those who prefer wild beaches. No services, nearest facilities 500 metres away. Click for Playa de la Cueva de las Palomas

7. Playa de la Herradura: one of a series of semi-wild beaches at the western end of the Águilas coastline. There are no facilities . Click for Playa de la Herradura

8. Playa de Matalentisco: this is a fairly wild natural beach, the thick green lentiso bushes in the dunes behind this Águilas beach the reason for its name. Blue Flag. Click for Playa de Matalentisco

9. Playa de La Cañada del Negro: 150 metres of natural, unspoilt rocky beach in the western outskirts of Águilas.This is popular with snorkelers and is the only dog friendly beach in the municipality on which dogs can run off the lead. Click for Playa de la Cañada del Negro

10. Playa de La Casica Verde: a pleasant new beach at the western end of the town of Águilas, next to the sporting marina where a number of sporting facilities are on offer. The beach offers a wide expanse of sand on the edge of the urban town. Blue Flag 2018. Click for Playa de la Casica Verde

11. Playa de Poniente: the first of the main urban beaches in the municipality, a wide sandy beach in Águilas with a full range of services which holds both the blue flag and Q for Quality distinctions. Click for Playa de Poniente

12. Playa de La Colonia: a Blue Flag beach under the shadow of the castle of Águilas offering wide swathe of soft sand and full serviced facilities. A very popular beach close to the urban centre of the town. Click for Playa de la Colonía

13. Playa de Levante: a narrow urban beach which runs along the front of the main urban centre of Águilas between the marina and the main harbour. Less popular as a main sunbathing beach, but widely used in the evenings for bathing. Blue Flag. Click for Playa de Levante

14. Playa de Las Delicias: a long curving swathe of sand in front of the Águilas auditorium which offers full serviced facilities and yet is spacious enough to cope with high levels of summer usage. One of the most popular urban beaches in the municipality. Blue Flag. Click for Playa de las Delicias

15. Playa de Los Cocedores: spectacular views across the Hornillo bay from this beach east of Águilas. The beach itself is not the most popular as there is little parking or sand, and much better beaches within an easy walk, so occupation is low. There are no services here. Click for Playa de los Cocedores

16. Playa del Hornillo: a beach on the eastern urban fringe of the municipality with beautiful views over the Bay of Hornillo from this sandy beach. Popular with residents of the neighbourig urbanisations. Click for Playa del Hornillo

17. Playa Amarilla: a spectacular location ideal for snorkeling. This is an isolated wild beach which offers superb views and is ideal for those who prefer more trnquil beaches in "out of the way" locations. : Click for Playa Amarilla

By the time we reach the next section of beaches we are heading out of Águilas town and entering a section of rocky coastline between the town of Águilas itself and the next urban nucleas along, Calabardina.

The coastline becomes more accessible as the land flattens off heading towards Calabardina:

20. Playa del Arroz: an attractive wild beach, with soft sand and located between Águlias and Calabardina which is popular with campervans due to the good access and availability of parking space. Click for Playa del Arroz

22. Playa de La Cola: a long stretch of beach leading into Calabardina.Measuring just 10 metres wide, this is over one kilometre long offering plenty of space in which to spread out.Click Playa de la Cola

23. Playa Canalicas: a sandy and attractive cove in the village of Calabardina, click for Playa Canalicas

24. Playa de Calabardina: a fully-serviced sandy urban beach in the shadow of Cabo Cope, one of the most popular in the Calabardina area. Click for Playa de Calabardina

The coastline once again becomes wilder as we leave Calabardina and head towards the rocky headland of Cabo de Cope. This area offers a succession of low occupancy beaches, some of which require a concerted effort to access.

27. Playa de Cope: a small beach close to the headland of Cabo Cope, click for Playa de Cope

From here the land drops into a flat plain, the beaches accessed via a sandy coastal track. All are low occupancy and unspoilt, offering a mixture of sand and shingle, or attractive isolated sandy coves. Some real gems in here for lovers of natural, unspolit coastline.

29. Playa del Rafal: this is the only dedicated nudist beach in the municipality, a wide curving sandy cove, which is easily accessed. Click Playa del Rafal

30. Playa de la Rambla de Elena: a wide sandy area which opens up at the mouth of the Rambla de Elena. This is the best point from which to access the following beaches via rough coastal track, all of which are wild natural beaches. Click Playa de la Rambla de Elena